Mayor responds to overwhelming 'no' to city/county merger

Those who favor consolidated government in Vanderburgh County say they might give it another try.

On Tuesday, voters overwhelming said "no" to the merger referendum

The issue was defeated 67% to 33%. A margin, the mayor calls, surprising.

Mayor Winnecke tells 14 News that the two issues he believes voters still had questions about are representation and taxes. He says it's apparent the Yes for Unification campaign didn't make a compelling enough argument for change.

He says he would be disappointed if the issue isn't re-visited in the future with either the original plan or a similar one.

"The county commission and the city council made about 100 changes to the plan the citizens committee brought together. There were probably some other changes if I really sat down went through it and made. I suspect there are members of the CORE group and other people generally in the public that would never support it and that's okay," Mayor Winnecke said.

The mayor also says the vote sends a message that residents are pleased with the current direction on city-county government.